Losing weight

You don't want the problem of weight loss from Bronchiectasis/NTM. Be glad if you have a little extra weight as you age with this disease. You may need it. I weigh 82 lbs. from a usual adult weight of 105 and constantly struggle to gain.

I'm 5'2" and weigh in between 109-112. I can maintain if I focus on eating smaller meals and have a couple snacks a day (all with protein). I do try and get in exercise everyday too and keep hydrated.

Hi there, I have MAC and Bronchiectasis and the weight loss has been awful. When I was on the big 3 I lost 2 stone. I have managed to put 1 stone back on but it is not a good look! I have always been slim but now I am underweight. I eat as often as I can but I think that if I gained weight I would have more energy. I work 3 days a week, do exercise but become exhausted. I am on watchful waiting at the moment and really want to avoid going back on treatment. Those extra few pounds will stand to you.

Regarding losing weight, please be careful. Many months ago, I watched a video (I believe it was Dr McShane, but I'm not certain) stating that she wanted to see BE/MAC patients with BMI's of at least 20 and preferably 21. I was curious as to why, and when I researched the reason, I found that adipose (fat) cells produce leptin in our bodies and that there is a positive relationship between leptin and respiratory health. I confirmed this when I last spoke with my nutritionist at UNC. Too much leptin is harmful; too little leptin isn't as helpful as it could be. You may want to discuss this with your doctor or nutritionist!

@jdcook Why do you want to lose weight? Is it because you for you have always been slender, and now as you age you are not, or because your weight is causing other health issues like diabetes or joint problems?

If it is the former, here is what my primary provider told me 10 years ago - "A little extra weigh can actually be a good thing as we age, because it protects us from becoming seriously underweight in the case of a protracted illness." A couple years later, I got seriously infected with MAC & pseudomonas at the same time, went on meds for almost 2 years, and lost 20% of my body weight in a year - I was a walking skeleton.

Fast forward 6 years - I have regained my weight, plus a little, due to the medications I am taking. I would like to be slimmer, but remember what I went through, so I am not trying to "lose weight". Instead, I am focusing on eating healthy and being as physically fit as I can be.

If your BMI (body mass index) places you in the overweight or obese category, talk to both your primary and pulmonologist about whether (and how much) weight to try to lose. Otherwise, maybe just try to be as healthy as you can.

@kate2025 I echo what you have written. It’s a struggle to get up to & maintain @ the 110 lbs the doctors strongly suggest as ‘fighting weight’ if need be. At 81, DX BE 53 years ago, 6 mos. post MAC on Big 3. Thankful life is good!

One doctor told me that I never wanted to lose weight because of the bronchiectasis or MAC because "that means the disease is winning". Perspective.

@kpger
I am 75, have MAC, and take the three meds. What do I do to gain weight? I have no appetite and weigh 109-110 and am 5’5”. I am a skeleton and just can’t eat enough to gain. The fatigue and dizziness is not good. I am concerned about losing weight thru exercise but, know that I need it. What is the best diet for me please?

Thank you for your story of weight loss and regaining. What helped you to gain it back? I eat healthy foods and many small meals and I am seeing a dietician. But it is extremely hard to gain while having both Bronchiectasis and NTM. I also am on my 3rd month of Brinsupri.

@ingrid1947 Literally a one-hour diet. Every waking hour, I ate either a meal, or a small, high protein snack of at least 100-150 calories. My diet was limited by an allergy to wheat & most tree nuts, so I had to get creative. And the antibiotics changed my sense of taste so some formerly favorite foods were unpalatable.
Some of my usual snacks were:
1 ounce cashews (you could sub other tree nuts)
1 ounce cheese
1 container Greek yogurt with some fruit or fruit preserves
1 hardboiled egg
A handful of dried fruit
gluten-free crackers with peanut butter
corn tortilla with 1/4 cup guacamole or hummus
4-6 ounces of a protein shake or homemade fruit/veg/protein powder/yogurt smoothie
3/4 cup ice cream
1 ounce dark chocolate
For many weeks, I actually had to set a timer & force myself to eat, but once I got on this schedule I stopped losing weight. It took 2 full years to regain my "normal" weight after I stopped antibiotics. When thirsty, at least once a day, I drank 8oz lactose-free milk in place of water.
What strategies have you tried so far?